Automatic icemaker

Abstract

An automatic icemaker according to the present invention is capable of being installed in a freezing compartment and automatically making and discharging ice cubes, the automatic ice-making comprising at least one ice-making tray having a plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions disposed between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments, and groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of the partitions which are offset from centers of the partitions, and a rotating device for rotating the ice-making tray, wherein water is supplied after the ice-making tray is inclined at a water supply angle less than a water filling angle in such a direction that the water passage channels face downward.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an automatic icemaker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view of the automatic icemaker shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the automatic icemaker, taken along a line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a system block diagram of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a microprocessor of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart which is of assistance in explaining the operation of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are each a view which is assistance in explaining the operation of the automatic icemaker shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a microprocessor of an automatic icemaker according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart which is of assistance in explaining the operation of the automatic icemaker having the microprocessor, the functional block of which is illustrated in FIG. 8.

Claims

1. An automatic icemaker capable of being installed in a freezing compartment and automatically making and discharging ice cubes, said automatic icemaker comprising: at least one ice-making tray having a plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions disposed between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments, and groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of said partitions which are offset from centers of said partitions; anda rotating device for rotating said ice-making tray;wherein water is supplied after said ice-making tray is inclined at a water supply angle less than a water filling angle in such a direction that said water passage channels face downward.

2. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, further including a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a water supply angle inclination instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be inclined at the water supply angle when an ice-making cycle is started, a valve opening instructing-means for causing a water supply solenoid valve to be opened after said water supply angle inclination instructing-means causes said ice-making tray to be inclined at the water supply angle, a valve closing instructing-means for causing said water supply solenoid valve to be closed after the water supplied to said ice-making tray is spread evenly into said small ice-making compartments, a water filling angle inclination instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be inclined at the water filling angle after said valve closing instructing-means causes said water supply solenoid valve to be closed, and a horizontal position return instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be returned to a horizontal position after a predetermined time has elapsed since said water filling angle inclination instructing-means causes said ice-making tray to be inclined at the water filling angle.

3. An automatic icemaker according to claim 2, wherein said microprocessor has an AD converter contained therein.

4. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, further including a temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of said ice-making tray or a temperature of ice, and a temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of an interior of said freezing compartment.

5. An automatic icemaker according to claim 1, wherein two said ice-making trays are combined together back-to-back.

6. An automatic icemaker capable of being installed in a freezing compartment and automatically making and discharging ice cubes, said automatic icemaker comprising: at least one ice-making tray having a plurality of small ice-making compartments, partitions disposed between respective adjacent small ice-making compartments, and groove-shaped water-passage channels formed in portions of said partitions which are offset from centers of said partitions; anda rotating device for rotating the ice-making tray;wherein water is supplied while said ice-making tray is rotated in such a direction that the water-passage channels face downward, according to a quantity of the water stored in the small ice-making compartments by the supply of the water.

7. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the water is supplied while said ice-making tray is successively rotated.

8. An automatic icemaker according to claim 7, further including a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising an operation start instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be rotated in such a direction that said water passage channels face downward and for causing a water supply solenoid valve to be opened, when an ice making cycle is started, a valve closing instructing-means for causing said water supply solenoid valve to be closed after a predetermined time has elapsed since said operating start instructing-means causes said water supply solenoid valve to be opened, a water filling angle inclination instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be kept at the water filling angle when a tilt angle of said ice-making tray reaches the water filling angle, and a horizontal position return instructing-means for causing said ice-making tray to be returned to a horizontal position after a predetermined time has elapsed since said valve closing instructing-means causes said water supply solenoid valve to be closed and said water filling angle inclination instructing-means causes the tilt angle of said ice-making tray to be kept at the water filling angle.

9. An automatic icemaker according to claim 8, wherein said microprocessor has an AD converter contained therein.

10. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein the water is supplied while said ice-making tray is rotated step by step.

11. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, further including a temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of said ice-making tray or a temperature of ice, and a temperature detecting sensor for detecting a temperature of an interior of said freezing compartment.

12. An automatic icemaker according to claim 6, wherein two said ice-making trays are combined together back-to-back.